Improvement in air-cushions for invalid-beds



T. R. JOHNSON.

Air-Cushions for Invalid Beds.

No. 211,741. Patented Jan. 28,1879.

lllliiiilllli UNITED STATES PATENT OFFToE THOMAS E. JOHNSON, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT JAMES STEVART GRAHAM, OF GREENWOOD, SOUTH BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN AIR-CUSHIONS FOR INVALID-BEDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,741, dated January 28, 1879; application filed June 5, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS RICHARD J OHN- soN, of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Invalid-Bed Pads or Cushions, of which the following is a specification:

The invention relates to an expansive tapering air pad or cushion for the use of persons confined to a bed of sickness, whether in private houses, hospitals, or other places.

The object of my invention is to provide an easy means of raising invalids whenever nec essary to use a bed pan or chamber without causing them the least fatigue or pain, or even changing their reclining position.

The invention consists in the construction of an air pad or cushion that may continually lie under the loins and posterior of an invalid imperceptibly when not inflated, and being always ready for use by inflation without any further preparation than the fre'euse of air forced through the tube by means of a bellows or otherwise, and sliding in a bed-pan and removing it at will.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a perspective of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line no a, showing the end with the open space for the reception of the bed-pan between the two rests for the thighs and Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2 2, showing the shape of the pad or cushion when inflated and the bedpan in position.

In Fig. 1, the letters a a represent the flaps of the pad or cushion; B B, the top of the pad or cushion B B, the air-chamber; c c, the opening for the free introduction and removal of the bed-pan. D represents the bed-pan c, the tube through which the air is forced into the pad or cushion 5 j, the tap used to stop the air from coming out, yet so constructed that by an extra turn of the key the air can be allowed to escape. G represents the end of the tube used for inflation, or for attaching a bellows, which may be of simple construction, of india-rubber, and may form part of the tube.

The operation of the device is as follows: The pad or cushion is placed in position in the bed on the top of the under sheet sufficiently far up under the loins and posterior of the invalid-there to remain during the sickness or prostration-so as to allow the bed-pan being put far enough under the patient to permit its being used and removed at will, and. the pad or cushion being (on such occasions only) filled with air, as stated. The tapering shape of the pad or cushion admits of its being so gradually and imperceptibly filled as to raise that portion of the body so gently as to cause no fatigue or pain, or require any extra exertion on the part of the nurse, (in fact, a child can do what is required in an emergency,) and after the operation the air can be so gradually let out as to let the patient down to his or her original position actually unnotic-ed.

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention, what I claim is- 1. As an article of manufacture, an air pad or cushion having the flaps a, a, air-chamber B, and recess 0, for the reception of a bed-pan, D, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, in an invalid-bed pad or cushion, of the air-chamber B, having recess 0, with the tube 0, stop cook or plug f, and opening G, for admission of air, arranged and operating together, as and for the purposes herein set forth.

THOMAS H. JOHNSON.

Witnesses ALFRED ELLIOTT, H. W. McRAY, Jr. 

